Vehicle door latch device and associated vehicle door
By using a rotatable opening lever, gears, and mechanical levers arranged coaxially in the door latching device, combined with electrical and mechanical release mechanisms, the space limitation problem is solved, realizing a modular and functionally diverse door latching device to adapt to different vehicle needs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-03
AI Technical Summary
In existing vehicle door latching devices, the available space for electric release mechanisms and mechanical release mechanisms is limited, making it difficult to effectively combine them within a compact space.
It employs a rotatable opening lever, gears, and a rotatable mechanical lever arranged on a common shaft, combined with an electric release mechanism and a mechanical release mechanism. Springs and return springs return each component to its original position, providing a compact door latch device that allows for independent replacement or removal of parts of the mechanism to meet different needs.
It achieves an effective combination of electric and mechanical release mechanisms within a compact space, providing modular door latch devices to meet the needs of different vehicle manufacturers, and features over-control and child lock functions.
Smart Images
Figure CN121593633A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of door latches for ensuring that vehicle doors are closed, and particularly to latches that combine an electric release mechanism and a mechanical release mechanism. Background Technology
[0002] Today, vehicles are equipped with door latching devices that include an electric release mechanism, also known as an E-release mechanism, which can open the door by a simple movement, such as pressing a button or moving in front of a detector.
[0003] Electric release mechanisms are being increasingly developed in current vehicles because they provide users with additional comfort.
[0004] However, in addition to electronic release mechanisms, existing mechanical release mechanisms are usually retained as alternatives or backups to electronic release mechanisms.
[0005] Therefore, the two mechanisms must be combined, but the available space for the two release mechanisms is limited.
[0006] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide a door latching device comprising an electric release mechanism and a mechanical release mechanism having a compact size. Summary of the Invention
[0007] This invention relates to a vehicle door latching device, comprising:
[0008] - Engaging mechanism, which is configured to engage with the firing pin.
[0009] - A rotatable opening lever configured to rotate between a rest position and an actuated position, wherein the rotatable opening lever releases the engagement mechanism.
[0010] - An electric release mechanism comprising an electric release motor having an output shaft, a worm gear disposed on the output shaft of the electric release motor, and a gear configured to mesh with the worm gear to rotate between a rest position and an open position, wherein a rotatable opening lever is displaced by the gear such that when the gear rotates to the open position, the rotatable opening lever is in the actuated position.
[0011] - A mechanical release mechanism comprising a rotatable mechanical lever configured to be mechanically linked to a handle for rotation between a rest position and an open position, wherein a rotatable opening lever is displaced by the rotatable mechanical lever such that when the rotatable mechanical lever is rotated to the open position, the rotatable opening lever is in the actuated position.
[0012] The rotatable opening rod, the gear, and the rotatable mechanical rod are arranged on a common axis.
[0013] The use of a rotatable opening lever, gears, and a rotatable mechanical lever arranged on a common shaft enables the provision of a door latching device that combines an electric release mechanism and a mechanical release mechanism within a compact housing. Assembly of the different components is also facilitated, and the door latching device can be reconfigured to meet the needs of vehicle manufacturers.
[0014] According to another aspect of the invention, the rotatable mechanical rod rotates independently of the gear, and vice versa.
[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, a spring is arranged between the housing of the door latch device and the rotatable opening lever to return the rotatable opening lever to its rest position.
[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, a rotatable mechanical rod is linked to a return spring configured to return the rotatable mechanical rod to a stationary position.
[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, the door latch device further includes a locking mechanism comprising an electric locking motor having an output shaft, a worm gear disposed on the output shaft of the electric locking motor, a locking gear configured to engage with the worm gear to rotate between an unlocked position and a locked position, and a locking lever configured to shift via the locking gear between a first position associated with a locked position of the locking gear and a second position associated with an unlocked position of the locking gear, wherein in the first position the locking lever prevents the release of the engagement mechanism, and in the second position the engagement mechanism can be released.
[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, a spring is arranged between the locking gear and the rotatable opening lever to return the rotatable opening lever to its rest position.
[0019] According to another aspect of the invention, in the first position of the locking lever, the locking lever prevents the engagement mechanism from being released only by mechanical opening from the external handle.
[0020] According to another aspect of the invention, the rotatable mechanical lever is configured to displace the locking lever to the second position when the rotatable mechanical lever is rotated to the open position.
[0021] According to another aspect of the invention, the door latch device is reconfigurable, such that components of the mechanical release mechanism (such as a rotatable mechanical lever) or components of the electric release mechanism (such as an electric release motor and gears) can be removed without affecting the function of the remaining mechanisms.
[0022] According to another aspect of the invention, the gear of the electric release mechanism has a generally disc-like shape, and the electric release mechanism includes a stop having a generally disc-like shape, wherein the gear is configured to contact a first side of the stop in a rest position and a second side of the stop in an open position.
[0023] The present invention also relates to a vehicle door, which includes the door latching device as described above and a handle configured to be mechanically linked to a rotatable mechanical rod.
[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, the handle is connected to a rotatable mechanical rod via a bar or Bowden cable.
[0025] According to another aspect of the invention, the handle is an internal handle.
[0026] According to another aspect of the invention, a vehicle door latch device can have a child lock. This prevents children from accidentally opening the door while the vehicle is moving. For this purpose, the child lock has a mechanical interface accessible when the door is open. To activate or deactivate the child lock, the user must activate or deactivate the mechanical interface by turning or pressing it. Behind the mechanical interface is a switch or sensor that transmits information to the electronic components of the door latch.
[0027] To provide feedback to users, a visual interface is provided to display the lock status. For example, LEDs can provide information about the lock status. Therefore, a red light means the child lock is not activated, while a green light means the child lock is activated.
[0028] This function is integrated into the electrical module of the door latch. Attached Figure Description
[0029] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a door latch device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] Figure 2 This is a first perspective view of the internal components of a door latch device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] Figure 3 It is an exploded view of the mechanical release mechanism and the electric release mechanism;
[0032] Figure 4 This is an assembly view of the mechanical release mechanism and the electric release mechanism;
[0033] Figure 5 This is a second perspective view of the internal components of a door latching device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] Figure 6 This is an exploded view of the internal components of a door latching device having two alternative configurations according to two embodiments of the present invention;
[0035] Figure 7 This is a third perspective view of the internal components of a door latch device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Detailed Implementation
[0036] The following achievements are examples. Although the specification relates to one or more embodiments, it does not mean that every reference relates to the same embodiment or feature applies only to a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.
[0037] The present invention relates to a door latch device 1, which is configured to ensure the closure of a vehicle door, particularly a side door or trunk lid.
[0038] Figure 1 This represents an example of a door latch device 1.
[0039] The door latching device 1 includes an engagement mechanism 3 configured to engage with a striker (not shown). The striker is disposed on the vehicle body next to the door and configured to be drawn into a recess 31 of the door latching device 1 when the door is closed. The engagement mechanism 3 includes a claw 32, which is at least partially disposed in the recess 31 and configured to engage in the closed position (e.g., ...). Figure 1 The door latch device 1 can be moved between a closed position (as shown) and an open position. In the closed position, the striking pin is held within the recess 31 by the pawl 32. In the open position, the striking pin can be disengaged from the door latch device 1. The engaging mechanism 3 also includes a pawl 33, which is configured to be in a blocking position (as shown). Figure 1 The pawl 33 rotates between the blocking position (shown) and the release position. In the blocking position, the pawl 33 blocks the rotation of the pawl 32, allowing the firing pin to be held by the pawl 32. In the release position, the pawl 33 allows the pawl 32 to rotate, thus releasing the firing pin to open the door. Figure 2 As shown, the engagement mechanism 3 also includes a driver 34 configured to rotate about a first axis 35 and engage with a pawl 33 to rotate the pawl 33 between its blocking position and its released position. The driver 34 may include a notch 36 configured to receive a lever 33a of the pawl 33.
[0040] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the door latching device 1 also includes a rotatable opening lever 5 configured to rotate about a second axis 7 between a rest position and an actuated position. By rotating from the rest position to the actuated position, the rotatable opening lever 5 is configured to rotate the actuator 34 to release the engagement mechanism 3. The rotatable opening lever 5 is configured, for example, to push a protruding element 37 of the actuator 34, such as... Figure 5 As shown.
[0041] The door latching device 1 also includes an electric release mechanism 9. The electric release mechanism 9 includes an electric release motor 11 having an output shaft 11a. According to an embodiment of the invention, the electric release motor 11 is a reversible motor (the output shaft 11a of the electric release motor 11 can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise). A worm gear 13 is arranged on the output shaft 11a of the electric release motor 11.
[0042] The electric release mechanism 9 also includes a gear 15 configured to mesh with a worm gear 15 of the output shaft 13 to rotate between a rest position and an open position via the electric release motor 11. The gear 15 is arranged about a second shaft 7 and is therefore coaxial with the rotatable opening lever 5. Furthermore, the gear 15 may include an axial protrusion 151 configured to contact the rotatable opening lever 5. Alternatively or in combination, the rotatable opening lever 5 may include an axial protrusion configured to contact the gear 15. Thus, the rotatable opening lever 5 is configured to be displaced by the gear 15 such that when the gear 15 rotates to its open position, the rotatable opening lever 5 rotates to its actuated position, thereby causing the engagement mechanism 3 to be released. The electric release motor 11 may be configured to return the gear to its rest position after the engagement mechanism has been released.
[0043] Gear 15 may include teeth only on a portion of the circle, depending on the angular difference between the rest position and the open position of gear 15.
[0044] The electric release mechanism 9 may also include a stop 12 having a general shape of a portion of a disc, and wherein the gear 15 is configured in a rest position. Figure 4 (As shown in the diagram) It contacts the first side 12a of the stop 12 and contacts the second side 12b of the stop 12 in the open position. By using such a stop 12, the number of parts is reduced, and the assembly of the door latch device 1 becomes easier.
[0045] An elastic component, such as spring 17, may also be arranged around shaft 7 to return the rotatable opening lever 5 to its rest position and to reduce noise and vibration. Spring 17 may include a first end 17a and a second end 17b, the first end 17a being configured to contact, for example, the rotatable opening lever 5, and the second end 17b being configured to contact the gear 15.
[0046] The door latching device 1 also includes a mechanical release mechanism 19. The mechanical release mechanism 19 includes a rotatable mechanical lever 21 configured to be mechanically linked to a handle, such as an interior door handle of the vehicle. The rotatable mechanical lever 21 can be connected via a Bowden cable 23 (in... Figure 6(See image) or linked to a handle via a rod. The rotatable mechanical lever 21 is configured to rotate between a rest position and an open position. Furthermore, the rotatable mechanical lever 21 may include an axial protrusion 211 configured to contact the rotatable opening lever 5. Alternatively or in combination, the rotatable opening lever 5 may include an axial protrusion 51 configured to contact the rotatable mechanical lever 21.
[0047] Return spring 22 (in) Figure 6 (As can be seen in the image) It can also be arranged between the housing of the rotatable mechanical lever 21 and the door latch device 1 so that the rotatable mechanical lever 21 returns to the stationary position when the user releases the handle linked to the rotatable mechanical lever 21.
[0048] Therefore, rotation of the rotatable mechanical lever 21 from its rest position toward its open position causes rotation of the rotatable opening lever 5 in its actuated position, and thus causes release of the engagement mechanism 3. The rotatable mechanical lever 21 is arranged about the second axis 7, and is therefore coaxial with the rotatable opening lever 5 and the gear 15. The gear 15 is arranged, for example, along the second axis 7 between the rotatable mechanical lever 21 and the rotatable opening lever 5. This coaxiality of the rotatable mechanical lever 21, the rotatable opening lever 5, and the gear 15 makes it easy to assemble the different components of the door latch device 1, and provides a door latch device 1 with both the electric release mechanism 9 and the mechanical mechanism 19 in a limited space.
[0049] Furthermore, this implementation provides modularity for the door latching device 1. In practice, if only the electric release mechanism 9 is needed, components of the mechanical release mechanism 19 can be removed to reconfigure the door latching device 1. Alternatively, if only the mechanical release mechanism 19 is needed, components of the electric release mechanism 9 can be removed to reconfigure the door latching device 1. The mechanical release mechanism 19 and the electric release mechanism 9 thus operate independently (i.e., the rotatable mechanical lever 21 rotates independently of the gear 15, and vice versa), allowing a portion of the mechanical release mechanism 19 or a portion of the electric release mechanism 9 to be removed without affecting the function of the remaining mechanisms.
[0050] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a door latch device 1 includes a locking mechanism 60 configured to lock the door to prevent a user from entering the vehicle from the outside. The locking mechanism 60 includes an electric locking motor 61 having an output shaft 61a, a worm gear 63 disposed on the output shaft 61a of the electric locking motor 61, a locking gear 65 configured to engage with the worm gear 63 to rotate between an unlocked position and a locked position, and a locking lever 67 configured to shift via the locking gear 65 between a first position associated with the locked position of the locking gear 65 and a second position associated with the unlocked position of the locking gear 65, wherein in the first position, the locking lever 67 prevents the release of an engagement mechanism 3, and in the second position, the engagement mechanism 3 can be released.
[0051] The door latching device 1 may also include an additional mechanical lever 71 configured to connect to a handle, such as an external handle. The additional mechanical lever 71 can be connected via, for example,... Figure 2 The Bowden cable 73 shown is connected to the external handle via a rod.
[0052] The door latching device 1 may also include an over-lock function to unlock the locking mechanism 60 when mechanical opening is triggered from the inside handle (to prevent the user from being locked outside the vehicle after mechanical opening from the inside handle). In the current configuration, the rotatable mechanical lever 21 is linked to the inside handle. Therefore, by using a modified rotatable mechanical lever 21' (in... Figure 6 (As can be seen in the image) to obtain over-control functionality, the rotatable mechanical lever 21' includes an additional protrusion 211 configured to displace the locking lever 67 toward its second position when the modified rotatable mechanical lever 21' is rotated toward its open position. It may also be necessary for a modified rotatable opening lever 5' to work in conjunction with the modified rotatable mechanical lever 21', such as... Figure 6 As shown. Displacement of the locking lever 67 toward its second position also causes the locking gear 65 to rotate toward its unlocked position. A contactor may be arranged next to the locking lever 67 to detect its displacement toward its second position in order to trigger rotation of the electric locking motor 61 to return the locking gear 65 to its unlocked position.
[0053] Furthermore, to prevent overrun when the user pulls the outer handlebar, the engagement mechanism 3 may include a clutch paddle 39 disposed between the locking lever 67 and the actuator 34. In this embodiment, the actuator 34 is made of a first portion 34a and a second portion 34b including a protruding element 37. The clutch paddle 39 is configured to move from a retracted position to an engaged position via the locking lever 67 (when the locking lever 67 moves from its first position to its second position), wherein the clutch paddle 39 is positioned between the first portion 34a and the second portion 34b of the actuator 34. Additionally, an additional mechanical lever 71 is configured to rotate the second portion 34b of the actuator 34 when the user pulls the outer handlebar.
[0054] As a result, if the locking lever 67 is in the first position, the clutch paddle 39 is in its retracted position, causing the displacement of the auxiliary mechanical lever 71 via the external handle to rotate the second portion 34b of the drive 34 toward the first portion 34a of the drive 34, but the first portion 34a of the drive 34 does not rotate, keeping the pawl 33 in its blocking position. The door thus remains closed. Conversely, if the locking lever 67 is in the second position, the clutch paddle 39 is in its engaged position, causing the displacement of the auxiliary mechanical lever 71 via the external handle to rotate the second portion 34b, which in turn causes the first portion 34a to rotate via the clutch paddle 39, which engages between the second portion 34b and the first portion 34b of the drive 34. The pawl 33 then rotates to its released position.
[0055] According to another embodiment, the over-control function can be provided by an additional lever configured to displace the locking lever 67 when the rotatable opening lever 21 is moved toward its open position.
[0056] The door latch device 1 may also include additional springs to constrain different parts of the door latch device 1 toward predetermined positions.
[0057] Therefore, the door latch device 1 shown in the various figures provides a compact device that can be reconfigured according to the requirements of the vehicle manufacturer to provide a mechanical release mechanism, an electric release mechanism, or a combination of both, with different options, such as over-control function, to prevent the user from being locked outside his vehicle when the door is opened from the inside handle.
[0058] The door latch device 1 may have a child lock function (not shown). The child lock function prevents children from accidentally opening the door while the vehicle is moving. To this end, the child lock function has a mechanical interface that is available when the door is open. To activate or deactivate the child lock, the user must activate or deactivate the mechanical interface by turning or pressing it. Behind the mechanical interface is a switch or sensor that transmits information to the electronics of the door latch device 1.
[0059] To provide feedback to users, a visual interface is provided to display the lock status. For example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can provide information about the lock status. For instance, a red light can indicate that the child lock function is not activated, and a green light can indicate that the child lock function is activated.
[0060] The child lock function is integrated into the electrical module of the door latch device 1.
[0061] The present invention also relates to a vehicle door comprising a door latching device 1 as described above and a handle configured to be mechanically linked to a rotatable mechanical rod, for example, via a bar or Bowden cable to a rotatable mechanical rod 21. The handle may be an internal handle. The door may also include an external handle mechanically linked to the door latching device 1, for example, via a bar or Bowden cable to an additional mechanical rod 71.
Claims
1. A door latching device (1), comprising: - Engaging mechanism (3), which is configured to engage with the firing pin. - A rotatable opening lever (5) is configured to rotate between a rest position and an actuated position, in which the rotatable opening lever (5) releases the engagement mechanism (3). - An electric release mechanism (9) comprising an electric release motor (11) having an output shaft (11a), a worm (13) disposed on the output shaft (11a) of the electric release motor (11), and a gear (15) configured to mesh with the worm (13) to rotate between a rest position and an open position, the rotatable opening lever (5) being displaced by the gear (15) such that when the gear (15) rotates to the open position, the rotatable opening lever (5) is in the actuated position. - A mechanical release mechanism (19) comprising a rotatable mechanical rod (21) configured to be mechanically linked to a handle for rotation between a rest position and an open position, wherein a rotatable opening lever (5) is displaced by the rotatable mechanical rod (19) such that when the rotatable mechanical rod (19) is rotated to the open position, the rotatable opening lever (5) is in the actuated position. The rotatable opening rod (5), the gear (15) and the rotatable mechanical rod (21) are arranged on a common shaft (7).
2. The door latching device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The rotatable mechanical rod (21) rotates independently of the gear (15).
3. The door latching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, A spring (17) is arranged between the housing of the door latch device (1) and the rotatable opening lever (5) to return the rotatable opening lever (5) to its rest position.
4. The door latching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The rotatable mechanical rod (21) is linked to a return spring, which is configured to return the rotatable mechanical rod (21) to the rest position.
5. The door latching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The door latch device (1) further includes a locking mechanism (60) comprising an electric locking motor (61) having an output shaft (61a), a worm gear (63) disposed on the output shaft (61a) of the electric locking motor (61), a locking gear (65) configured to engage with the worm gear (63) to rotate between an unlocked position and a locked position, and a locking lever (67) configured to shift between a first position and a second position via the locking gear (65), the first position being associated with a locked position of the locking gear (65), in which the locking lever (67) prevents the engagement mechanism (3) from being released, and the second position being associated with an unlocked position of the locking gear (65), in which the locking mechanism (3) can be released.
6. The door latching device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, In the first position of the locking lever (67), the locking lever (67) prevents the engagement mechanism (3) from being released only by mechanical opening from the external handle.
7. The door latching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The rotatable mechanical lever (21) is configured to cause the locking lever (67) to move to the second position when the rotatable mechanical lever (21) is rotated to the open position.
8. The door latching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The door latch device is reconfigurable, allowing components of the mechanical release mechanism (19) or the electrical release mechanism (9) to be removed without affecting the function of the remaining mechanisms.
9. The door latching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The gear (15) of the electric release mechanism (9) has a general shape of a portion of a disc, and the electric release mechanism (9) includes a stop (12) having a general shape of a portion of a disc, wherein the gear (15) is configured to contact a first side (12a) of the stop (12) in the rest position and to contact a second side (12b) of the stop (12) in the open position.
10. A vehicle door comprising a door latching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims and a handle configured to be mechanically linked to the rotatable mechanical lever (21).
11. The vehicle door according to the preceding claim, wherein, The handle is connected to the rotatable mechanical rod (21) via a bar or Bowden cable.
12. The vehicle door according to claim 10 or 11, wherein, The handle is an internal handle.